PESHAWAR: People took to the streets in different areas of the provincial capital on Monday against the prolonged power cuts and breakdowns.

The rallies disrupted traffic on major roads.

The street protests were staged by the residents of Lahori, Kachi Mohallah, Zargarabad, Bala Manrhi, Nazar Garhi, Atta Mohammad Garhi, City Circular Road, Sikandarpura, Gang Chowk, Shaheen Colony, Gulberg and other areas.

They lashed out at the Peshawar Electric Supply Company over failure to ensure uninterrupted power supply and said they’re subjected to power outages for as many as 18 hours daily.

The protesters also complained about low voltage.

They also rail against tripping, low voltage

They said power cuts, which occurred at night, had made life miserable during hot and humid weather.

The protesters also complained about water and ice shortage.

Unscheduled power outages were reported in Hayatabad, Gul Bahar and Hashtnagri areas as well.

Holding banners and placards, the protesters shouted slogans against Pesco and demanded smooth electric supply.

They also called for separate transmission lines for rural and urban areas.

The protesters said the frequent suspension of electric supply had disrupted online classes during the ongoing closure of educational institutions over the outbreak of coronavirus.

They said power cuts had badly affected businesses.

The City Circular Road residents resented the frequent tripping.

“We regularly pay bills but even then, the Pesco subjects us to the unscheduled loadshedding,” Hamid Firdus said.

The protesters warned that if the smooth electric supply was ensured, they would demonstrate outside Wapda House and provincial assembly daily.

A spokesman for Pesco Shaukat Afzal said the power supply system had come under severe pressure due to hot weather.

He said electric overloads caused tripping and that 50 per cent load management had been begun at 500kv, 220kv and 132kv grid stations.

The spokesman said load management was meant to prevent massive power breakdowns mainly in Peshawar, Swat, Swabi, Bannu and other major districts.

He urged the people to avoid illegal power connections and cooperate with the power company by installing power meters.

The spokesman also sought their cooperation in crackdown on power theft.

Meanwhile, the Pesco announced in a statement that electric supply from 132kv Kotal Town Kohat grid station would remain suspended on Aug 18 and 19 from 7am to 12 noon to the inconvenience of the areas covered by 11kv City V, Gamkot, Alizai I and II, Hungu Road, Eidgah, Kharmatoo, Kohat Express, Old Gombat, Bilitang and New Gumbat feeders.

It said the power supply from 66kv Dir grid station would also remain suspended on Aug 18 from 7am to 7pm, so the people of 11KV Dir, Barawa, Warri Old, Osherai, Sharingal and Express feeders would suffer.

Our correspondent from Karak adds: The residents of Takht-i-Nusrati tehsil staged street protests against unscheduled loadshedding and complained that power cuts had caused water shortage.

Led by trader leaders Haji Ilyas and Malik Fareed Azam, the protesters marched through Takht-i-Nusrati Bazaar shouting slogans against the Pesco.

They said excessive, unscheduled power cuts had made life miserable in hot and humid weather.

The protesters said consumers were ready to pay power bills but the Pesco didn’t honour its agreements.

They warned that if smooth electric supply wasn’t restored, the protests would spread across the district.

The protesters sought local MNA Shahid Khattak’s intervention for an immediate end to power cuts.

Published in Dawn, August 18th, 2020